Texas Forest Services promotes wildfire action plan

Sara Higgins/Staff Writer

Published 2:40 pm, Saturday, May 21, 2011

FORT DAVIS — Texas Forest Service forester Johnathan Motsinger noticed something strange as he visited homes destroyed by flames in Midland and Jeff Davis counties and Possum Kingdom in early April. As he performed a damage assessment of the different properties, he saw how often one house would be standing right next to where one had burned completely to the ground.

“It all depended on how it was built, the roof type or if there were any combustible materials near the house like a wooden deck,” he said.

But there is a danger more common than flames that property owners have to worry about during wildfires, according to Patrick Allen, who is a Texas Forest Service wildland/urban interface specialist based in Midland.

“Homes usually don’t burn because of the flames,” he said. “They burn because of the embers blown indirectly onto your house, even from a mile away.”

Because all it takes to burn down a house is an ember the size of a quarter, Allen said it’s especially important to fireproof houses as much as possible during wildfire season. The Texas Forest Service hosted a town hall meeting at the Jeff Davis County Courthouse on May 12 to inform residents about the “Ready, Set, Go!” wildfire action plan.

“It can be as simple as enclosing the bottom of your deck with something that won’t burn, like steel or concrete,” he said. Allen said he advises against stacking firewood between trees, and especially not setting it against a propane tank, as he’s seen in Central Texas.

Another tip was making sure you have the six “P” items before you are in imminent danger: important papers; plastic, such as credit cards and identification; pets; photos and memorabilia; and prescriptions.

Allen also promoted the Firewise Communities program, which is a federal program aiming to involve homeowners in the effort to protect their properties and lives.

“Basically, it allows the community to make these mitigation adjustments and practices and defend themselves on their own before the wildfire firefighters arrive,” he said.

To become a Firewise community, subdivisions or groups can contact Allen in order to do community assessments in conjunction and cooperation with the local fire department. The community must establish a Firewise board that takes responsibility for design and execution of Firewise activities and a community action plan. It must host a Firewise event or day to spread awareness about wildfire mitigation practices.

Firewise communities can’t be all talk. Allen said the communities must invest a minimum $2 worth of volunteer effort per capita. The national volunteer rate right now is $20.25 per hour.

“Anytime a community member goes out and does these Firewise things, trims trees or gets out their weed eater, those are mitigation practices,” Allen said. “They get credit, and it all adds up to that $2 per person investment.”

Allen said he has visited with Midland County fire marshal and emergency management coordinator Dale Little almost every day since his arrival in West Texas about a month ago, and Firewise activities are in the works in Midland.

“We’re hoping to do some exciting things,” Allen said.

Tips to protect your house from wildfires:

1. Large propane gas tanks should be far enough away from buildings for valves to be shut off in case of fire. Keep area around the tank clear of flammable vegetation.

2. Store gasoline in an approved safety can away from occupied buildings.

3. All combustibles such as firewood, wooden picnic tables, boats and stacked lumber should be kept away from structures.

4. Clear roof surfaces and gutters regularly to avoid build-up of flammable materials such as leaves and other debris.

5. Remove branches from trees to a height of 15 feet or more.

6. In rural areas, clear a fuel break of at least three times the fuel length around all structures.

7. Have fire tools handy such as a ladder long enough to reach your roof, shovel, rake and a bucket or two for water.

8. Place connected garden hoses at all sides of your home for emergency use.

9. Assure that you and your family know all emergency exits from your home.

10. Assure that you and your family know all emergency exits from your neighborhood.